How to Type ā (A with macron) on Microsoft Word

Published July 16, 2026, 2 min read

ā is a with macron, a letter used in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. On Microsoft Word, the quickest way to get it is 0101 then Alt+X. This guide covers every method that works, including the capital Ā and fixes for common problems.

ā on Microsoft Word: 0101 then Alt+X

Ā on Microsoft Word: 0100 then Alt+X

Or copy it:

Method 1: Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 0101 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into ā.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Method 2: Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 0101 in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

How to type the capital Ā

The uppercase form works the same way with Shift added where a letter is typed.

Alt+X Unicode trick

Type 0100 where you want the letter.
Press Alt+X. Word turns the code into Ā.

Press Alt+X again to turn it back into the code. On a Mac, Word uses the macOS methods instead.

Insert Symbol

Go to Insert → Symbol → More Symbols.
Set "from" to Unicode (hex) and type 0100 in Character code.
Click Insert. You can also assign a shortcut key here.

About the letter ā

ā is Unicode U+0101, named LATIN SMALL LETTER A WITH MACRON. It is used in Latvian, Mandarin Pinyin, Māori and Hawaiian. A flat bar above a vowel, used for long vowels in Latvian, Lithuanian, Māori, Hawaiian and Latin textbooks, and for the first tone in Pinyin. See the ā character page for every code and shortcut.

Troubleshooting

Ctrl accent shortcuts are in Word for Windows. Word for Mac uses the macOS Option shortcuts.
If Alt+X converts the wrong text, select just the code first, then press Alt+X.
Change the font if the letter shows as an empty box; Calibri, Arial and Times New Roman cover common accents.

Frequently asked questions

What is the shortcut for ā on Microsoft Word?

0101 then Alt+X.

Can I just copy and paste ā?

Yes. Click the copy button above, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Chromebook, Cmd+V on a Mac, or touch and hold and choose Paste on a phone.

What is the Unicode code for ā?

U+0101. In HTML it is ā.

Related guides

All accent shortcuts for Microsoft Word